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South Africa: 2 mines re-open despite continuation of labor unrest
Amplats management was “whistling in the dark” if it believed the mines would reopen on Tuesday, he said.
“They can deploy the police, but let us be clear, there will be repercussions,” he said.
A spokesman for Xstrata Alloys said miners returning to work in Rustenburg on Monday had been subjected to intimidation by striking colleagues and that the atmosphere remained tense.
“As our employees were coming to work, there has been intimidation which is all over Rustenburg,” said Christopher Tsatsawane said.
Wild Cat Strikes
Xstrata and other platinum mines in the area have been hit by wildcat strikes since August 16. All of Lonmin’s mines remain closed.
South Africa is home to 80 percent of known reserves of platinum, the price of which has gained nearly 20 percent since the strikes began. The sector accounts for 6 percent of South Africa’s economy, the biggest in Africa.
